Emergency Escape Research Articles

Re‐thinking corporate real estate after September 11th

Surveys of corporate real estate executives in North America and elsewhere in the world indicate significant shifts in their thinking in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. Aside from the predictably much greater concern with planning for emergency escape from buildings, executives indicated that the greatest shifts in their thinking centred around issues of security of information technology and communication systems; greater use of teleconferencing and video‐conferencing (reducing travel); and more new ways of working such as homeworking, satellite and neighbourhood work centres, and hotelling. Along with such changes in practice, executives also indicated the desire to create stronger communities within their organisations, even as they also expect further to disperse their activities across locations. There is a slight shift in preference away from downtown locations and a much higher overall concern with occupancy control over the spaces that they occupy. In North America especially, there is a shift away from occupancy of high‐profile named buildings. Overall the surveys indicate that corporate real estate executives are moving ahead with distributed work‐location strategies, increasing their reliance on virtual technologies for collaboration, and re‐thinking the branding of their physical assets and the nature of community in their organisations. All of these changes further indicate the increasingly integrative role of corporate real estate within wider business strategy and a closer alignment of corporate real estate activities with human resources, organisational development and information technology.

Automated guidance algorithms for a space station-based crew escape vehicle

An escape vehicle was designed to provide an emergency evacuation for crew members living on a space station. For maximum escape capability, the escape vehicle needs to have the ability to safely evacuate a station in a contingency scenario such as an uncontrolled (e.g., tumbling) station. This emergency escape sequence will typically be divided into three events: The first separation event (SEP1), the navigation reconstruction event, and the second separation event (SEP2). SEP1 is responsible for taking the spacecraft from its docking port to a distance greater than the maximum radius of the rotating station. The navigation reconstruction event takes place prior to the SEP2 event and establishes the orbital state to within the tolerance limits necessary for SEP2. The SEP2 event calculates and performs an avoidance burn to prevent station recontact during the next several orbits. This paper presents the tools and results for the whole separation sequence with an emphasis on the two separation events. The first challenge includes collision avoidance during the escape sequence while the station is in an uncontrolled rotational state, with rotation rates of up to 2 degrees per second. The task of avoiding a collision may require the use of the Vehicle's de-orbit propulsion system for maximum thrust and minimum dwell time within the vicinity of the station vicinity. The thrust of the propulsion system is in a single direction, and can be controlled only by the attitude of the spacecraft. Escape algorithms based on a look-up table or analytical guidance can be implemented since the rotation rate and the angular momentum vector can be sensed onboard and a-priori knowledge of the position and relative orientation are available. In addition, crew intervention has been provided for in the event of unforeseen obstacles in the escape path. The purpose of the SEP2 burn is to avoid re-contact with the station over an extended period of time. Performing this maneuver requires knowledge of the orbital state, which is obtained during the navigation state reconstruction event. Since the direction of the delta-v of the SEP1 maneuver is a random variable with respect to the Local Vertical Local Horizontal (LVLH) coordinate system, calculating the required SEP2 burn is a challenge. This problem was solved using elements of neural network theory for model-free function approximation and decision making.

Analysis of Airborne Alerting Algorithms for Closely Spaced Parallel Approaches

This paper describes the analysis of an airborne alerting system for aircraft that are landing on closely spaced parallel runways. Such alerting systems have the potential to increase airport capacity by providing arrival rates during Instrument Meteorological Conditions that approach the arrival rates during Visual Meteorological Conditions. The analysis method consists of simulating a large set of intrusion scenarios and observing the probability of events related to the alerting system performance (correct detection, false alert, induced collision, late alert, etc.). The analysis method is applied to an experimental alerting system called Airborne Information for Lateral Spacing (AILS) that is designed to alert the pilot to an intrusion threat and instruct the pilot when to perform an emergency escape maneuver. This paper describes the alerting algorithms, presents metrics for evaluating the system performance, and analyzes the system performance using a batch simulation. The analysis shows that the system performance appears comparable to the Precision Runway Monitor requirements, although these results should be considered preliminary.

Exploring the Suitability of Virtual Environments for Safety Training: Signals, Norms and Ambiguity in a Simulated Emergency Escape

This study aims at exploring the suitability of virtual environments for safety training in large public spaces. A virtual library was constructed which simulated many of the physical and normative characteristics of the ‘real’ university library which was the target of the virtual safety training project. In the virtual library, two different types of signals (fixed red signs vs. moving green arrows) for guiding people to the emergency exits were presented, and their efficacy on escape times was tested in three different conditions, differing with respect to the distance of participants from the escape exits (measured according to the number of corners separating participants from direct visual discovery of the emergency exit). No significant differences between the different kinds of signals were found, whereas surprising discrepancies among the three conditions appeared. The differences in performance in the three conditions were contingent upon the presence in the virtual library of peculiar environmental features embodying social norms – like a red ribbon indicating no transit. Uncertainty about the sense of such normative features in the context of the simulated emergency made some participants prone to peculiar knowledge-based errors consisting of inadequate sense-making of the normative aspects of the ongoing situation. This kind of error shows that the simulation succeeded in capturing one of the crucial characteristics of ‘real’ social context: ambiguity, which mostly depends on the fact that the social norms structuring public spaces and defining their legitimate uses are often ill defined and context dependent. Every valid experience in safety training requires coping with ambiguity in situations.

Emergency escape system

Emergency escape system

Analysis of a Hybrid Dual-Combustion-Chamber Solid-Propellant Gas Generator

Solid-propellantgas generators (SPGGs) have a number of aerospace applications, includingmunitionsdispersion, pilot emergency escape systems, submarinemissile launching,powering actuators and valves, and short-term power supply. Recently, the increased demand for so-called smart automotive airbags has increased the need for SPGG designs capable of real-time, tailorable output. Dual-combustion-chamber gas generators provide several distinct advantagesover single-combustor units in systems where optimumperformance is needed at several operating conditions. The objective of this work is to evaluate the attainable performance characteristics of a proposed dual-combustion-chambergas generator. The work includes a simulation of the transient, thermochemical events associated with the Ž ring of an SPGG. The simulations also include the dynamics of coupled events such as ignition, heterogeneous combustion, and mass discharge. The baseline gas generator being simulated in this work is a hybrid SPGG in ator with two combustion chambers. Studies are made of the distribution of propellant between combustion chambers and the times at which the propellant within each combustion chamber is Ž red.

Emergency lighting and wayfinding provision systems for visually impaired people: Phase of a study

This paper fully presents data concerned with a range of different emergency lighting systems and how suitable they are for people with different visual impairments. Using the Building Research Establishment's facility, it has been possible to examine the performance of several types of emergency escape route lighting and wayfinding provision. These include ceiling-mounted emergency luminaires, photoluminescent markings, electroluminescent strips , LED strips and miniature incandescent wayfinding strips. Thirty visually impaired volunteers have passed through the facility. Speeds of movement are presented here, along with results of a questionnaire that the subjects completed at the time of the tests. Comparisons are made with results from normally sighted people. It is found that mean walking speeds are significantly slower with the use of photoluminescent strips than with the other systems, and this system is considered the most dinlcult to use. The performance of users of the powered wayfinding systems is similar in terms of speed to that with the high-mounted emergency lighting provided, and these systems were thought to make it easier to see where to go.

Serotonin and Crabby Behavior

The neurotransmitter serotonin has been linked to aggression in humans and animals. In crayfish, serotonin injections have been reported to cause aggressive, dominant postures. This study evaluated the effect of serotonin on the neuronal circuit that regulates tailflip -- an emergency escape reflex -- in dominant, submissive, and socially isolated crayfish. Serotonin reversibly enhanced the response to the sensory stimuli …

Space-borne tethers

The astronauts onboard the Space Station are busy conducting experiments with the Station's tethered nano-gravity facility-a mobile platform which can be moved up and down a tether to fine-tune the amount of gravitational force present in their experiments. The tether itself is an insulated conducting wire which connects the station to a remote facility orbiting in tandem 50 km above the Station. All is going well until a malfunction in the solar arrays mounted on the Station causes its power system to fail. The batteries will not last until the next Shuttle visit. Without the tether, the astronauts would most likely have to abandon the Station in its emergency escape vehicle. However, the specialist onboard changes the tether configuration to allow it to generate power from its motion across the Earth's magnetic field. In this configuration, the tether provides the Station with large amounts of power, enough to run the station as well as most of its experiments. The extra drag on the station due to this power generation is counteracted by its reboost module. >

Biodynamic Testing of Helmet Mounted Systems

New helmet mounted visually coupled systems (night vision devices and helmet mounted displays) which are designed to improve pilot performance may only increase the existing potential for neck injury during emergency escape due to the increase in head supported weight and altered center-of-gravity (CG). Designers need criteria for helmet system mass properties which will not increase the risk of injury above acceptable limits. A research study reviewed and analyzed accident statistics, current literature, and in-house laboratory data. Mass properties of various helmet systems were related to biodynamic responses of instrumented humans and manikins from impact tests conducted on the Armstrong Laboratory Vertical Deceleration Tower. Accident data revealed severe neck injuries are relatively rare in an operational setting. Laboratory studies of head/neck biodynamic response relating compression force at the occipital condyles to head supported weight indicate average forces exceed safe guidelines. The studies also suggest that helmet systems weighing less than 2.27 kg and having a center-of-gravity located only slightly above the anatomical axis origin of the head, will not induce severe neck injury during the catapult phase of ejection compared to current operational helmets.

A canonical correlation of fire protective behaviors and beliefs

The use of a multivariate procedure is demonstrated in the analysis of a survey of various firesafety actions and beliefs in a college student population. A canonical correlation analysis identified three significant factors and revealed that performing a safety inspection of one's residence for potential hazards was associated with beliefs in one's personal efficacy in handling fire situations, whereas engaging in more emergency-related actions such as checking to see if one's smoke detector was working properly, knowing the emergency telephone number, having it posted by the telephone, and knowing two exits out of each area of the home was related to beliefs of susceptibility and seriousness concerning fires. A third factor revealed an association between having a sprinkler system (but not a fire extinguisher) present in the place of residence, vacuuming the dust from a smoke detector, and having ever practiced an emergency escape with beliefs reflecting susceptibility to future (but not present) fire hazards, adequacy of firesafety knowledge, and beliefs in the effectiveness of firesafety inspections. It is shown that the results of this analysis can be quite useful in guiding the development of firesafety education materials; also, the need to differentiate the specific motivational approach depending upon the type of firesafety action being promoted with this particular population is revealed.

NASA Adds Simplified Pole Escape System as Nation Prepares to Launch Shuttle Craft

AS THE National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) prepares for next month's scheduled launching of the Discovery shuttle craft, officials apparently have chosen the least-complicated solution to the problem of providing at least some means of emergency escape for the astronauts ( JAMA 1986;256:2011). This problem, of course, has received increasing attention since seven crew members perished in the Challenger explosion and plunge into the sea 2 1/2 years ago ( JAMA 1986;256:2009). The solution: a 3.2-m (10.5-ft), 108.5-kg (241-lb) aluminum-and-steel pole designed to let the crew slide clear of the shuttle in an emergency and then (if the altitude is not too great) parachute to safety. The pole was chosen over an alternative extractor-rocket system because it is deemed safer, simpler to operate,

8504334 Emergency escape breathing apparatus : Gabriel SPERGEL

Through sponsorship by the Federal Railroad Administration and in cooperation with the railroad industry and railroad labor organizations. Technical Products, Inc. (TPI) has developed information and recommendations relative to the use of emergency escape breathing apparatus (EEBA) by train crews who may have exposure to hazardous materials and would pose an inhalation hazard in the event of unintentional use. The research included defining the scope of the triggering criteria the presence on trains of hazardous material that would pose an inhalation hazard in the event of unintentional release, the state of EEBA technology, the methods by which EEBAs might be provided to crews, the incidence rate of accidents with fatalities and serious injuries attributable to the inhalation of released hazardous material, and the economic issues involved with the provision of these devices to all train crew members.

Safety Topics

A Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) originally issued in 1983 proposed performance standards for floor proximity emergency escape path markings for transport category aeroplanes. It was stated that there may be a number of ways of acceptable combinations of various types of lighting that could meet the objectives of this proposal which followed on the findings of a special committee dealing with the problems of fuel spill and cabin fire protection. Related aspects of post‐crash survival were looked at, including lighting for emergency evacuation and it was recommended that additional sources of lighting be placed at a lower level in the cabin in the relatively clear air near the floor.

Chemical and photographic evaluation of rigid explosive transfer lines

This paper describes the chemical and photographic analyses perfomed on 112 explosive transfer lines used to initiate aircraft emergency escape systems

An Expert System Design for Ventilation, Emergency Rescue, and Power Peak Shaving

The development of a rudimentary expert system design for routine and fire-driven mine ventilation, emergency escape and rescue planning, and peak power shaving is described. This description is of the first efforts toward an intelligent mine management system. Various knowledge-base constructs have been used for data validation with an interface to a standard mine fire simulation program. A natural language interface was developed to the system including the ventilation simulator program. This system serves as a vehicle for testing hypotheses generated by an expert systems.

4552140 Emergency escape device : John Cowley, Selby D Hussey, Toronto, IL, Canada assigned to Erie Manufacturing Co

Relatively simple inexpensive device uses reeled steel cable, is controlled by automotive-type shock absorber, and allows safe descent from burning building. Device is cheap to manufacture and assemble and requires neither skill, special knowledge, or athletic ability to operate. It is reliable and fireproof and can be deployed instantly.

New FAA Regulations on Aircraft Cabin Markers

On Friday October 26th, 1984 the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) published Federal Register 14 CFR Parts 25 and 121 pertaining to Floor Proximity Emergency Escape Path Marking. The register establishes new performance standards which came into force on November 26th, 1984 including retrofit of passenger aircraft certified after January 1st, 1958. Compliance of the register must be achieved by November 26th, 1986.

Fire, gases, smoke lower crash survival chances

Smoke was discovered in the jet airliner's lavatory. Airport firefighters reached the jet as soon as its emergency landing was completed. But, says the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB): "About 60 to 90 seconds after the exits were opened, a flash fire engulfed the airplane['s] interior.... 23 passengers were unable to get out and died." That was in 1983. Now, the Federal Aviation Administration is requiring that, within three years, slower-burning seat coverings (of material to be selected by the airline but conforming to federal requirements) be installed in planes designed for 30 or more persons. Within two years, the agency says, these larger aircraft also must have emergency escape path markings or lighting on or near the floor to help guide passengers to safety when overhead emergency lighting is obscured by smoke. And, by the end of this month, the agency is expected to decide whether to require the

Fire, gases, smoke lower crash survival chances

Smoke was discovered in the jet airliner's lavatory. Airport firefighters reached the jet as soon as its emergency landing was completed. But, says the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB): "About 60 to 90 seconds after the exits were opened, a flash fire engulfed the airplane['s] interior.... 23 passengers were unable to get out and died." That was in 1983. Now, the Federal Aviation Administration is requiring that, within three years, slower-burning seat coverings (of material to be selected by the airline but conforming to federal requirements) be installed in planes designed for 30 or more persons. Within two years, the agency says, these larger aircraft also must have emergency escape path markings or lighting on or near the floor to help guide passengers to safety when overhead emergency lighting is obscured by smoke. And, by the end of this month, the agency is expected to decide whether to require the